Locking device for circuit-controlling means.



R. SCHOELL.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR CIRCUIT CONTROLLING MEANS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 15. I914.

l 142,732, Patent-ed June 8, 1915.

nEmHoLn SCHOELL, or STAMFORD, connnc'rrou'r, ASSIGNOR TO THE YALE &rowur':

manurnc'runme COMPANY, or STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR CIRCUIT-CONTROLLING MEANS, n

Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed August 15,1914. Serial No. 856,954.

new and useful Improvements in Looking Devices for Circuit-ControllingMeans; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to locking devices for circuit controlling means,and more particularly to such as are adapted to control the circuit ofthe sparking or timing mechanism of internal combustion engines forautomobiles and the like,one object of the invention being to providesimple and eflicient means for safeguardingv automobiles by looking thedevices which control the circuit connections, especially for carsequipped with low tension magnetos, spark coil and timer similar to theFord car (Model T) construction.

A further object is to so construct the device that it may be readily.applied to the car, either by the manufacturer, or by the owner, afterthe car has been used.

With these and other objects in view, the

invention consists in certain novel features of construction andcombinations of parts as hereinafter set forth and pointed out in .theclaims.

' In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is an inner face view, with thebase block removed; Fig. 2 is a face view of the base block; Fig. 3 isan end view of said base block; Fig. 4 is'a side elevation of the assembled device; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal view; Fig. 6 is a sectionalview taken at right angles to Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a transverse sec tionalview on the line 77 of Fig. 6, and Figs. 8 and 9 are face views, showingthe two positions to which the lock plug may bemoved.

1 represents a base block which may be madeaof fiber or other electricalinsulating.

notched blocks 3 of. insulating material mounted within a metal casing4, the clampmg of the wires being eflected by means of screws 5 passingthrough said casing and entering interiorly threaded thimbles 6 con-Patented J une 8,

nected with the base block and projecting into holes 7 in the blocks 3,as clearly shown in Fig.6. The insulation is removed from those portionsof the electric wires 8 which pass between the insulating clampingblocks so that the naked wires will be exposed for engagement therewithof a spring contact plate 9, whereby the current in said wires may beshort-circuited for the purpose of rendering inactive, the timing orother mechanism which said current .is intended I A barrel. 10 issecured rigidly to the casing 4 and contains a lock cylinder 11, in

which the plug 12 of the lock is mounted.

The plug 12 is provided with the usual key slot, and two sets of pintumblers are mounted in radial flanges 13 on the lock cylinder forlocking the plug in either of two positions to which it may be moved. Acam 14 is secured to one end of the lock plug 12, so that when said plugis turned in .one'direction (with the use of a proper key), said camwill engage the fluted or corrugated contact plate 9 and force the sameinto electrical contact with the wires 8,v thus short circuiting thesource of electrical energy and thereby rendering inoperative, thetimingv or other electrically actuated means. It is apparent that theparts will'be locked in such inoperative relation when the key shallhave been removed from the plug of the lock. With the use of the key,the plug may be unlocked, and turned in the reverse direction, when thecam 14 will be so moved with relation to the contact plate that theresilience of the'latter will cause'it to move out ofengagement with thewires, and thusv establish normal operative conditions. The turning ofthe plug ineach direction may be limited by means of stop pins 15-16,with which the cam 14 engages.

My improvements are particularly designed for use in protecting internalcombustion engines of automobiles, against unauthorized use.

After the device shall have been clamped clamping the device to saiddash. lhe annu-- lar nut 17 is made internally with a beveled Wall 18 tobe engaged by a pin 19 movably mounted within the inner portion of thebarrel 10. The head of this pin is made partially conical and is engagedby the conical portion of a screw 20 which enters the head of thecylinder. With such construction, the annular nut 17 will be locked inplace, and when the lock-plug shall have been so turned as to force theshort-circuiting spring 9 into contact with the wires 8, the screw 20'will be covered by a pointer finger 21 rigidly secured to the lock-plug12.

WVith the use of myrimprovements, it is apparent that when the timing orother wires are 'short-circuited and the key has been removed from thelock, it will be impossible to render the circuit operative otherwisethan with the use of a proper key, and that as the screw 20 whichcontrols the locking of the nut 17 to the barrel will be covered by thefinger 21 on the lock barrel, removal of the device to free it from theWires, cannot be efiected.

My improvements are simple in construction; eliective in operation tocontrol the operation of electrical devices; may be easily applied, andwill be efiicient in preventing unauthorized'tampering with theelectrical controlling mechanism' which they are designed to protect.

Slight changes might be made in the details of construction of myinvention without departing from the spirit thereof or on a movable partof the lock for moving said contact device, a nut on the free end orsaid barrel for securing the device to the support, means for lockingsaid nut against removal, and means on a movable part of the lock forprotecting the locking means for the nut when the contact device hasbeen operated to electrically connect said wires.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a support,a barrel, clamping means for electric wires secured to said barrel, acontact device for said wires mounted in the clamping means, a locklocated in the barrel, a cam carried by a-moving part of the lock foractuating said contact device to connect said electric wires, an annularnut on the barrel for securing the device to the support, alocking pinfor said nut mounted in the barrel, a screw in the head of the barrelfor moving said locking pin, and a finger on a moving part of the lockfor covering said screw when the contact device connects said electricwires.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presenceof two subscrib- REINHQLD SCHOELL.

ing witnesses.

Witnesses;

CHAs. A. BERRY, WALTON B. 'llnomasu

